Planning for the 2013 National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress and Honorary Chairs President and Mrs. Obama, is under way! This year the National Book Festival will take place, rain or shine, on Saturday,September 21 and Sunday, September 22, 2013 on the National Mall (between 8 ½ and 14th Streets). Visit the 2013 National Book Festival website for preliminary lists of authors and pavilions.

I’ve been volunteering for the Festival for 10 years now, and I can tell you three things: volunteers are indispensable to its success, it’s a really interesting way to spend a day and it’s a lot of fun! I always walk away with a list of new authors to check out and a thrill at seeing all those avid readers in one place! I hope you’ll join us as a volunteer.

Volunteers meet two requirements. First, all volunteers must commit to at least one half-day shift and second, all volunteers must attend a briefing session (briefing dates and times are set forth below).At the briefing session you will receive your volunteer assignment, a detailed instruction packet and a Festival T-shirt that identifies you as a volunteer.